Evolutionary Biology Spring 2011 Study Questions

EEB2245/2245W

The following study questions are designed to help you think about the lecture material. They are not comprehensive questions. Exam material is NOT limited to the topics in study questions and will not follow this format.

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Lecture 1 ( Jan 20, 2011)

1- What is speciation?

2- What are three ways relationships among organisms can be depicted or described?

3- What are the three main questions evolutionary biologists study?

4- What is homology?

5- Explain how the Permian Mass Extinction had a large effect on the diversity of life on Earth. How did that extinction influence the diversity of life present on Earth now?

6- Describe three different patterns in the diversity of life that evolutionary biology seeks to explain.

Lecture 2 (Jan 25, 2011)

Give an example of the fit between an organism and its environment.

Why do we focus on genetic differences in studying evolutionary change?

Suppose you observe that the average weight of squirrels on campus is greater than their average weight on Horsebarn Hill. Give an example in which this difference in weight is the result of an evolutionary change. Given an example in which this difference is not the result of an evolutionary change. Describe an experiment you could do to determine whether the difference is due to an evolutionary change or not.

What is the relationship between Mendelian genetics and population genetics?

What are the variables used to describe the genetic composition of a population?

In general terms, what genotype frequencies are expected under the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

What happens to genotype frequencies in a population under Hardy-Weinberg equilbrium? What happens to allele frequencies?

Hardy-Weinberg practice: try the problems here to get practice with describing the genetic composition of a population and determining Hardy-Weinberg proportions.